Tom Nichols was one of the players Gillingham agreed to let go when the club looked to reshape their strike force in January.
Nichols looks set to face his former team this weekend as a promotion-winner for weekend hosts Mansfield Town. The Stags clinched a top-three spot with a midweek win over Accrington.
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Looking ahead to Saturday’s match at Mansfield, Gills boss Stephen Clemence admits it was a tough call to let Nichols leave but there was more than one reason for his departure – aside from a lack of goals.
Nichols, 30, scored three times in 32 appearances for the under-performing Gills and along with Macauley Bonne were deemed disposable as the club looked to freshen things up.
Bonne went to Cambridge with former boss Neil Harris while Nichols signed an 18-month contract at Mansfield and is now a promotion-winner, scoring three goals for the Stags since his move including a recent winner against Forest Green Rovers.
Clemence said: “The goals per game ratio has been pretty poor all season and I told Tom and Macca I felt I had to freshen things up.
“We haven’t improved on that as much as we would have liked since they left but it was a tough call.
“Tom also has a girlfriend in the north and wanted to be closer to her as well. There are personal reasons behind what players want to do.
“I also think if you are wanted by a team who were first or second in the league at the time, then that is going to turn his head, so off he went.
“He went with my good wishes and I am pleased he has been successful.
“We have to make sure if it can’t be us this year being successful and sneaking in there, then we have to be there next year and enjoy what he is enjoying now.”
While Nichols will get the chance to see some of his old team-mates, former Mansfield players Oli Hawkins and George Lapslie could be in the Gillingham squad.
Both moved to the Gills at the same time as Nichols, to help the club turn the corner and escape from relegation last season.
Hawkins may be used from the substitute bench this weekend after Josh Andrews replaced him in the team while Lapslie is hoping to have recovered from a hamstring injury.
Clemence added: “I had a good relationship with Tom and congratulate to him for getting promoted.
“We’ll be looking forward to seeing him and the boys (Lapslie and Hawkins) will be looking forward to returning to Mansfield.
“It is always special when you go back to your old club and obviously people will be looking forward to seeing Tom.
“But The biggest focus for us as a group and for those players will be to go there and try and get three points.”
